Former Woodstock pastor placed on leave

BATAVIA – A former pastor at St. Mary Parish in Woodstock has gone on leave from his pastoral role at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Batavia while the diocese is investigating his conduct.

Monsignor Aaron Brodeski, 44, who started at Holy Cross on Feb. 25, 2013, after serving as pastor of St. Mary Parish in Woodstock for nearly five years, is under investigation for conduct that does not involve minors or anything to do with Holy Cross Parish or school funds, according to a statement from Bishop David Malloy.

“Monsignor Brodeski has agreed to take a leave of absence, effective immediately, for evaluation and possible treatment for personal and spiritual difficulties affecting his priesthood,” Malloy’s statement read.

There are no charges against Brodeski for the alleged conduct under investigation.

Officials at St. Mary Parish declined to comment.

Brodeski was ordained in 1998, according to the diocese. His first assignment was as parochial vicar at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Crystal Lake and religion teacher at Marian Central Catholic High School in Woodstock.

In 1999, he began to coordinate Rock 2000, a summer event for youths and young adults centered on the Eucharist and the sacraments, according to the diocese. Brodeski was made associate diocesan director of vocations and the spiritual adviser for the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry in 2000.

He also was pastor of St. Mary Parish in Byron, invested with the title of “monsignor” also in 2008, according to the diocese.

He became diocesan director of vocations from 2002 to 2008, and again from 2012 to Feb. 25, 2013, when he began as pastor of Holy Cross.